Husker Nation can now mark their calendars with an official kickoff time for Nebraska’s highly anticipated season opener against the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Thursday night clash at the iconic Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is set to commence at 8:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on August 28, as announced by ESPN.
This matchup has been a long time coming, with scheduling adjustments dating back to the disrupted 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally slated for a Bearcats home game in Indianapolis at one point, the decision to move the contest to Kansas City was finalized in December, much to the delight of many Husker faithful. While officially a Cincinnati home game, Nebraska is set to receive a significant cut of the ticket sales.
«All of a sudden Arrowhead came and said, ‘Hey, we’re interested in that game.’ And for us Arrowhead is Memorial Stadium South … Plus it’s fairly lucrative for us financially,» Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen stated on the Huskers Radio Network, highlighting the financial benefits and the familiar atmosphere for Nebraska fans in Kansas City. He further emphasized the recruiting advantages in the Kansas City metropolitan area, calling it a «win-win-win-win all the way around.»
Cincinnati enters the 2025 season following a 5-7 record last year, which included a notable 10-point victory over eventual College Football Playoff quarterfinalist Arizona State. Four of the Bearcats’ losses were decided by a single score or less. Head coach Scott Satterfield’s squad returns quarterback Brendan Sorsby and has been active in the transfer portal to bolster their offensive weapons.
Nebraska, coming off a 7-6 season, has a history of playing at Arrowhead Stadium. The Huskers suffered a 21-7 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game there in 2006 on a frigid night. However, in 1998, Frank Solich’s debut Nebraska team secured a 24-17 victory over Oklahoma State, thanks to a Joe Walker punt return and a crucial goal-line stand as time expired.
Current Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has expressed optimism about his team’s progress throughout spring practice. «I think the biggest thing is we look like a really physical team,» Rhule commented. «We’re blocking, we’re tackling. We don’t look soft. And while there might be a drop off sometimes as you get down the line, there’s not really a drop off to me when I’m watching it out there between so-and-so and so-and-so.»
The Week 0 matchup between Nebraska and Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium promises to be a high-profile start to the college football season, broadcast nationally on ESPN.